Extension-table



(No Model.) s sheets-sheen 1.

C. S. HOMER &` W. H. PICKETT.

EXTENSION TABLE.

" AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAUNCEY SHELDON HOMER AND WILLAM HENRY PICKETT, OF WARREN,

PENNSYLVANIA.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,881, dated April 12, 1892.-

Application filed August 12, 1891. Serial No. 402,451. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.- vide novel means for moving the adjustable Be it known that we, CHAUNCEY SHELDON leg-frame to extend and retract the flexible HOMER and WILLIAM HENRY PICKETT, cititable-top section and to otherwise improve zens of the United States, residing at Varren, extension-tables having adjustable leg-frames 5 in the county of Warren and State of Pennand ,flexible top sections composed of con- 55 sylvania, have invented new and useful I mnected slats. provements inY Extension-Tables, of which the To accomplish all these obj ects our invenfollowing is a specification. tion involves the features of construction and In extension-tables having flexible top secthe combination or arrangement of devices Io tions it is important to so construct the lexihereinafter described and claimed, reference 6o bly-connected slats that where they turn being `made to the accompanying drawings, round the ends of the adjustable leg-frames 'in whichthey will not separate at the joints and create Figure l is a detail longitudinal sectional crevices or spaces for the accumulation of viewof sufficientof an extension-table toillus- 15 crumbs, dirt, or other foreign matter. It is tra-te our invention. Fig. 2 is asectional view 65 also very desirable to provide an extension- 'taken on the line a: x, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detable of this character whereby the corners tail perspective view of a portion of the adat the ends of'the table where the Iiexible justable leg-frame. Fig. 4 is a broken persections turn are sharp-angled or approxispective view showing a portionof one of the zo mately square, while the ends of the table slats having concaved opposite edges. Fig.5 7o formed by the exible sections are perpenis a similar view of one of the slats having dicular andflat, for the purpose of providing convex opposite edges. Fig. 6 is a detail sec- What is termed a square-end table. To se- 'tional view on an enlarged scale, showing a cure close joints and avoid crevices orjspaces pair of the slats articulated together. Fig.

2 5 where the iiexibly-connected slats turn at the 7 is a detail sectional view showing a modi- 75 ends of the adjustable leg-frames, the slats ed construction, and Fig. Sis adetail sechave been provided with knuckle-like joints, tional View showing the position of the parts as in the application of Villiam H. Pickett, as the slats are turning the corners at the end filed March 3, 1891, Serial No. 383,546; but of the table.v

3o where one edge of the slat is convex and the In order to enable those skilled in the art to 8o other concave, as i'n the prior construction make and use our invention, we will now dealluded to, it is necessary for the flexible sec scribe the same in detail, referring to the tions to travel in a circular. path round the drawings, whereinvends of the leg-frames, and since the iiexible The numerall indicates a stationary table- 35 section cannot be abruptly turned to arighttop panel, which will be a center panel if the 85 angular position it is impossible to produce extension-table is adjustable at bothends, sharp-angled or approximately square corners and 2 indicates an adjustable leg-frame at and perpendicular flat ends. one end of the table. This leg-frame is pro- The object of the present invention is to vided with side bars 3, having upper and lower 4o provide an extension-table having a novel horizontal tracks or guide-flanges 4, termi- 9o flexible table-top section extended and rehating at the outermost cross-bar 5, and preftracted by the adjustable leg-frame and so erably composed of angle-irons. The outer constructed as to avoid spaces or crevices at ends of the side bars 'are supplied with guide the joints where the flexibly-connected slats flanges or clips 6 to guide the iiexible table- 45 turn round the outer end of the leg-frame, top section and holditperpendicular and flat 95 while providing a sharp-angled or approxiagain-st the vertical end portions ofy the side mately square corner and a perpendicular bars. The leg-frame is provided at its'outer at endso that what is termed a squareextremity with upper and lower counterpart end extension-table is produced. guides and' supports 7 and 8, composed of 5o The invention also has for its obj ect to prorollers, which are square or of similar shape, Ioo

angular in cross-section, and have their journalsl supported in suitable bearings, so that such guides and supports can rotate. The angular rollers are journaled on the leg-frame 'and have their axes coincident lwith a perpendicular line and also coincident with horizontal planes which extend between the hori- Zontal tracks or guide-flanges 4.

The flexible table-top section is composed of a series of contiguous slats 9 and 10, the slats 9 each having their opposite longitudinal Vedges formed with concaved seats 12, while the slats 10 have their oppositeA r'longitudinal edges form ed with convex portions 13,

resting in theconcaved seats 12 of the slats- 9 in such manner thatL the concavities and slats can accurately and abruptly turn as theyv convexities extend the full thickness of t'ne slats and serve to articulate the latter together, so that they turn upon each other like the knuckles of a hinge. are provided with flattened upper and lower surfaces, and'near each end the slats are provided with transverse grooves 14 in their un-f der sides, into which project the upper edges of the side bars 3. provided with attached metallic plates 15, projecting under the grooved portions 14 of the slats to form tongue-pieces 16, which engage beneath the tracks or fianges 4, secured to the side bars of the leg-frame. The slats are also provided with transverse orifices 17 for the purpose of Stringing them upon-a flexible cable 18 of any material land construction suitable for the conditions requiredto permit the flexible table-top section to abruptly bend, so that one portion'will stand exactly at right angles to the other portion, as exhibited in Fig. 1.

to the outermost slat and at its opposite extremity to a bolt 19, passing through a bracket 20, rigidly attached to the under side of the stationary panel 1. The bolt is provided with a nut` 21, and between the latter and the bracket is arranged a suitable spring 22 for the purpose of enabling the slats to yield or .contract or swell while the cable is maintained under tension. The orifices in the concaved slats 9 are so located as to be out of align-v traverse the square-cornered portions of the leg-frame, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1. This construction and arrangement of transverse orifices 17 in the respective slats fulfill all the conditions required 'for the abrupt turning or bending of the iiexible table-top section in orderto produce an extension-table wherein the corners are sharp l or approximately square, while the end of the .table is perpendicular and fiat.

In the modified construction, Fig. 7, the

slats 10 are made in the form of true cylin- The several slats,

The concaved slats 9 areV The cable is secured at one extremity ders; but the opposite side portions of such slats are convex and enter the concave sides section requires circular portions at the outer end of the adjustable leg-frame, and therefore the prior table is not what is termed a squarecorner Aand square-end table.

In extension-tables of the character described and shown it is desirable to provide ar rack-and-pinion mechanism for sliding the leg-frame to extend and retract the flexible table-top section. Where this mechanism is employed, a transverse counter-shaft is essential in order to impart motion to the wheel that actuates the rack; but this counter-shaft as heretofore constructed is objectionable in that it is essential to provide a crank-handle, which must be removable, in order that such crank-handle can be detached after the table has been adjusted to the desired position. The removable and replaceable crank-handle is objectionable in that it is frequently inisplaced and when required for use cannot be found. To avoid this objection in that type of extension-table having rack-and-pinion mechanism for moving the adjustable legframe, we provide the following construction and arrangement: The cross-bar 5 of the legframe is provided with a pair of brackets 23, between which is journaled the hub 24 of a pinion 25, having its teeth adapted to engage,

arack composed of teeth 26, attached to the slats 9 and 10, as will be best understood by reference to Figs 4 and 5. The teeth constituting the rack are each composed of a separate piece secured by screws or otherwise to each slat in proper relation to each other for engagement with the teeth of the pinion. The hub of the pinion is provided with an angular or equivalent shaped orifice, through which is adapted to move lengthwise a crankshaft 27, having at one extremity a jointed crank-handle 28, adapted to be extended into a position at right angles to the main body of the shaft, as in Fig. 2, for the purpose of imparting rotary motion to the pinion,while at ICO IIO

for placing the crank-handle entirely out of the way. The crank-shaft is adapted to move through an orifice 29 in one side 'bar of the leg-frame, and therefore when the jointed crank is withdrawn the pinion can be operatedvfromone side of the table to extend; and retract the flexible table-top section,

while if the jointed crank be pushed inward the teeth of the pinion by acting upon the teeth comprising the rack will cause the ad-v justable leg-frame to move, and thereby extend or retract the iiexible table-top section. As the table-leg is moved the flexible tabletop section causes the rotating guides and supports 7 and 8 to turn in their bearings, so that whenever the tableis adjusted the flexible table-top section will present a sharpangled corner and a perpendicularV tlat end to provide a table having a square end in contradistinction to a table having a curved or circular end.

The peculiar construction of flexible tabletop section entirely avoids the possibility of the slats separating at their joints and creating crevices or spaces for the accumulation of crumbs, dirt, or other foreign matter,while it is possible to produce a table with a square end, as before explained.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim isl. The combination, in an extension-table, of a stationary table-top panel, an adjustable leg-frame having at its outer end upper and lower counterpart rollers angular in crosssection, connected to the stationary table-top panel, and a flexible table-top section consisting of a series of contiguous slats 9 and lO, having transverse orifices, with those in one slat arranged out of alignment with those in the adjacent slat, and said slats9 having each edge provided with a concaved seat 12 and the slats l0 having each edge provided with a convexportion 13, a cable connected to the stationary table-top panel, extending through the transverse oriiices, and bearing against the upper edge of the orifice in one slat and against the lower edge of the orifice in the adjacent slat, and means for sliding the legframe to extend and retract the flexible table-top section round the angular rollers, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in an extension-table, of a stationary table-top panel, an adjustable leg-frame, means for sliding the leg-frame, and a flexible table-top section connected to the stationary tabletop panel and consisting of a series of contiguous slats 9 and 10, having transverse orifices, with those in one slat arranged out of alignment with those in the adjacent slat, said slats 9 having each edge provided with a concaved seat l2, coextensive with the thickness of the slat, and the slats 10 having each edge provided with a convex port-ion 13, coextensive with the thickness of such slat, and a cable connect-ed withpthe stationary panel and extending through the transverse orifices to bear against the upper edge of the orifice in one slat and against the lower edge of the orificein the adjacent slat, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in an extension-table, of a stationary table-top panel, an adjustable leg-frame, means for sliding the leg-frame, a iiexible table-top section connected to the stationary table-top panel and consisting of a series of contiguous slats providedwith transverse orifices, with those in one slat located out of alignment with those in the adjacent slat, and a iiexible cable connected to the stationary table-top panel, passing through the orifices and alternately bearing against the uppermost and lowermost edges thereof, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in an extension-table, of a stationary panel, an adjustable leg-frame, a liexible table-top section connectedwith the panel and engaging the leg frame, a rackand-pinion mechanism adapted to slide the leg-frame and the pinion having an orifice therethrough, and a lengthwise movable crank-shaft sliding through the orifice in the pinion and extensible at one side of the table, substantially as described. y

5. The combination, in an extension-table, of a stationary panel, an adjustable leg-frame, a iiexible table-top section connected'with the panel and engaging the leg-frame, a rackand-pinion mechanism adapted to slide the leg-frame back and forth and the pinionhaving an orifice therethrough, and a jointed 1 IOO IIO

therethrough, and a lengthwise -movablecrank-shaft extending through one side of the table and sliding in the orifice of the pinion, substantially as described.

7. The combination, in an extension-table, of a stationary panel, an adjustable leg-frame, a flexible table-top section composed of a series of contiguous slats having attached teeth, a cable extending through the slats and connected with the panel, a pinion journaled in bearings on the adjustable leg-frame and engaging the teeth ofthe slats, and a crank-4 shaft extending through one side ofthe legframe for rotating the pinion to slidethe legframe back and forth, substantially as described.

8. The combination, in an extension-table', of a stationary panel, an adj ustable leg-frame having its outer portion provided with an upper and lower roller, both of which are approximately square in cross-section, a ilexi- 'ble table-'top section composed of tseries of I nltestilnony whereof Wehave hereunto set contiguous slats 9.and 10, the formerA having our hands and affixed our seals'rin presence of 1o each edge provided with a concaved seat and ltwo subscribing Witnesses.

the latter having eaoh edge providedwith a Y CHAUNCEYV SHELDON HOMER. [L s.

5 convex portion, a cable yextending through WILLIAM HENRY PICKETT. [n s. V

the slats, and lneans for adjusting the leg- Witnesses: frame to extend and retract the exible ta- I-I. T. BARBER,

ble-top section, substantially as described. T. O. SLATER. 

